Writing-desk.



No. 640,226. Patented Jan. 2, I900. G. H. ROGERS.

WRITING DESK.

(Applicatioxi filed Oct. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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GEORGE I'I. ROGERS, OF BIRhlINGllAM, ALABAMA.

WRITlNG- -DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,226, dated January 2, 1900.

Application filed 001101181 1393- .To [LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Birmingham, Jefferson county, State of Alabama, have invented a certain new and Improved Writing-Desk; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings,with the reference numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in writing-desks; and it consists of a construction whereby parts of the top are made adjustable in a manner to cause the two sides of the open face of a book when resting on such top to lie in one plane, so as to present an even surface to facilitate writing thereon. The object is to avoid the difficulty of writing on the uneven surface which the open face of a book assumes when the larger part of its leaves are accumulating on one side, which side then becomes higher than the other where the leaves are less. The same construction permits also adjustment of all parts of the top to bring them into one even surface to permit the desk to be used for general purposes. 7

In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims is found a full description of the invention, its mode of operation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the desk with its top adjusted to support a book. Fig. 2 is a top View of the desk with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a front view of the top as shown in Fig. 1 and with a book in position. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the top of the desk at reduced scale.

The top of this desk consists of a center section 6, which is not adjustable and supported on a rectangular frame 7, and two lateral sections 8 8, one on each side thereof, which have each an independent vertical adjustment. Then in the lowest position of their adjustment, these lateral sections are even with the center section, as shown in Fig. 4, in which position they form a level top for the desk Serial No. 692,960. (No model.)

when such is desired. When a book is used to receive the writing, a level surface, so desirable for convenient writing, exists only while the same is open and used in the middie, in which case an equal number of leaves are on each side. This condition is one of only short duration, however, and when using the leaves and pages near the beginning or near the end the open face of the book presents an uneven surface by reason of the number of leaves on one side from the center exceeding those on the other, which latter side is then lower than the former. To overcome this difficulty and to obtain a level surface to write on, the top sections 8 are made adjustable, so that either one may be raised or lowered according to whether it supports a thicker or thinner part of the open book, such adjustment being continued until the two parts of the book come in line.

Usually where a book is started with the first page and filled up by consecutive entries the two sections 8 of the top are adjusted--that is, one side is raised and the other is lowered, or vice versa, since the overturned pages which decrease the height (thickness) of the book on one side increases it to the same extent on the other. For purposes of such adjustment top sections 8 are each supported on the free ends of four levers 9, one of such ends below each corner of the former. These levers are arranged in pairs, a pair below each side of a section and pivoted at 11 in bearings projecting upwardly from frame 7. The inner opposite ends of the levers of a pair are provided each with a segmental rack 12, which racks are in permanent engagement, so that if one lever is swung about its pivot the other one shares in the motion. For purposes of operating these levers the rack of one of them of each pairthe one toward the front of the desk-is continued downwardly to afford engagement of it with a worm 13, supported in bearings 14, depending from frame 7. The shaft of the worm extends forwardly and is provided with a hand-wheel 15 for operation. The pivot of one of the levers is extended to the other side in the shape of a rod 16, and forms also the pivot for one of the levers thereat, so that with the lovers rigidly connected, one at each end of said rod, the motion of an engaging pair of levers under one side of the particular top section is also transferred to the set below the other side, so that all four levers move together.

The operation is now readily understood, and according to the direction in which the worm is rotated by the hand-wheel the free ends of the four levers affected will either rise or lower, moving accordingly the particular top section resting on them. For the purpose of holding the latter in position on these ends there are depending lugs 17, supporting pins 18, which each reach under the ends of the levers. At the point of contact these ends are curved out, as shown, to compensate for the swinging motion of the levers. One of the teeth of the extended rack, and indicated by 19, is increased in length and by binding either against the worm or against the rack of the other lever it serves as a stop to the motion in either direction and prevents the same to be carried on to an extent which would cause disengagement of the parts. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the desk is used to support a book which is open near its end, causing most of the leaves to be on the left side. If resting on a flat surface, this side of the book would be much higher and writing rendered difficult. With my adjustable top and by lowering the top section on the left side and raising the one on the right the two sides of the face of the book are rendered even and writing becomes easy. The narrow center section is not used in this connection, being lower than either one of the other sections, so as to leave a space between them to accommodate the bulging back of the book. When the desk is used for general purposes, (not for supporting abook,) then the lateral sections are lowered to meet the center section, so that all three sections are in line and present an even top, as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the substructure-that is, the operating parts may be hidden by providing sides 21, secured to the outer edges of top sections 8, which depend therefrom and move up and down with them during adjustment.

.7 Frame 7 ,which carries all the parts described,

p a handle 32, and the arm-rest is raised.

issecured at 22 to a flange 23, having a pivot 24,which rests in a socket in the upper end of a suitable pillar 25, provided with a base 26 and supporting the whole device. To support the arm when writing near the lower edge of the book,there is a suitable arm-rest 27, supported on a sliding shelf 28, carried on rods 29, which move in bearings 31. When needed, this shelf is pulled out from under the top by means of This latter is supported by a number of props, of which two (numbered 33) are hingedly secured at both ends, one end connecting to the sliding shelf, the other to the arm-rest, whereby these props, in addition to serving as supports, serve also as a means to hold the arm rest to the shelf. The otherprop 34 is hingedly connected to one of the mentioned parts only,

its other end simply resting against a stop, for which in this case one of the bearings of one of the props 33 is used. When in such engagement, the arm-rest is held in position for use, while when the free end of this prop *is disengaged the arm-rest may be collapsed and moved back under the top. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show each this rest, there being one for each top section, and each figure showing it in two positions, one out and up for use, the other down and in. The height of this armrest is not adjustable, such adjustment being had by operating hand-wheels 15, provided for the purpose of raising or lowering the top sections to meet the arm-rest. In this manner one adjustment serves for all purposes.

To hold the uppermost leaves of the open book down flat, suitable means in form of a spring-pressed foot 35 are used, carried in a bearing in the outer end of an arm 36, which is fitted to a post37, on which it has a sliding adjustment. In its application the pressure-foot is placed on top of the paper and arm 36 is pressed down, causing the spring to be compressed. On removing the hand the spring by its expansive tendency forces the outer end of arm 36 upwardly, causing the bearing of the latter at its other end to bind against post 37, whereby the parts are held in place. The inner end of arm 36 ex tends into a groove 38 in post 37 which groove has a lateral branch 39 at its upper end. When the device is not needed, arm 36 is raised up as far as this groove permits. Then it is turned, causing its inner end to enter the horizontal branch 39 at the upper end, which prevents the arm from sliding down again, and thus holds the device out of the way. This position is shown at the right top section in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

41 is a suitable copy-holder consisting of a set of rollers having frictional contact and mounted in a frame which is carried on an arm 42, projecting from a post 43. The connection between the roller supporting frame and arm 42 and between arm 42 and post 43 is in each case pivotal, so that the position of the copy-holder may be properly adjusted. This device is used to support matter to be copied when in sheet form.

44 are drawers, one under each top section and opening rearwardly.

45 is an ink vessel.

46 is a stop which prevents the arm-rest from being collapsed in the wrong direction.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a desk, the combination of a rigid cen* tral top section and two lateral top sections, one to each side of the former, levers on which each of these lateral top sections is supported and means to move the levers under each of these lateral top sections in a manner to ad just each or either one of them independently to an independent position or to bring them in line with each other or with the center section.

2. An adjustable top section for a writing desk, four levers 9, on the free ends of which it is carried, one of such ends engaging below each corner, said levers arranged in pairs and provided with racks 12, those racks of a pair below a side engaging each other and means engaging with one of the engaging racks for the purpose of actuating the levers.

3. In a writing-desk, the combination of adjustable top sections 8, levers 9 on the free ends of which they are supported, racks 12 on the other ends of said levers, which are arranged in pairs with racks engaging and a worm engaging with one of the racks for the purpose of actuating the levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. ROGERS. Witnesses:

J. R. P. DURHAM, R. H. EGGLESTON. 

